A number of threads run through Rachel Frost’s (’26 political science) life, and they weave together to form a vibrant tapestry full of opportunities. Politics, adoption and foster care advocacy, the law, and international affairs are some of the strands she wants to pursue.
When she came to Iowa State, Frost had plans to become a fashion designer. But it was politics and the political science department that changed her mind. She thought that, since she liked student government, maybe she should think about it as a career.
“I tried a couple of political science classes,” Frost said, “and I knew that this is what I wanted to do.”
Passion for student government
Frost always liked participating in activities, and that first took form in youth theater. But her options were limited when she reached middle school.
“When I got to middle school, the only thing that sixth graders were allowed to do was student government,” Frost said.
She decided to check it out, and found she really enjoyed it.
This commitment continued through high school where she served in student government, and in 2021, Frost was selected to be the state student president of the Iowa Association of Student Councils.
At Iowa State, her passion for politics continued. Frost joined student government her junior year and is currently serving on the Curriculum Committee as the director of academic affairs. She is also a voting member of the Academic Affairs Committee. Outside of student government, Frost served as the vice president of judicial affairs for the Collegiate Panhellenic Council.
Various threads
As student president of the Iowa Association of Student Councils in high school, Frost managed the annual state project. Each year, every student council in Iowa works together to raise awareness for a shared cause. Frost’s project, “Love Makes a Family,” dealt with foster and adoptive families and care and raised $27,000 for that cause. The children she met during that time made an impact on her.
“I am very passionate about foster and adoptive care,” Frost said.
After coming to Iowa State, Frost was exposed to international law in Teaching Professor Yue Ren’s International Law class. This course allowed her to look at international politics from the perspective of the law and opened her eyes to new career opportunities. It’s also one of the classes that offered her significant real-world preparation for law school.
“I did a lot of case studies for that class,” Frost said. “Heading into law school, a lot of people are nervous for doing their first case studies, and I’ve already had experience in it.”
Last February, Frost and another student participated in a project at the Memorial Student Center Student Conference on National Affairs (MSC Scona) 70. This student-run conference has been held at Texas A&M University since 1955. Frost had been interested in this conference for years and was excited to finally attend.
Frost’s group project dealt with the question of how the United States should continue its relationship with the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Presentations are judged and her group placed second out of 16.
“It was such a great experience,” Frost said. “It was very enriching in terms of learning about very specific topics and areas, and getting to really dive deep in them.”
Final picture
The wide variety of classes and connection points offered in Iowa State’s political science program, plus the opportunities for participation in student government and conferences, have given Frost a wealth of career pathways to choose from.
When all the threads come together, Frost’s career could be one of many possibilities – a governor, family lawyer, foster care advocate, international affairs specialist, or something she hasn’t yet discovered.
This fall, Frost will attend the University of Iowa Law School. She is considering practicing family law but is open to other possibilities.
As Frost said, “I’ll figure it out.”